Ichiro Suzuki's two-run single in the 10th clinched a 5-3 win for Japan over South Korea in the final of the World Baseball Classic.
Japan edge out South Korea in classic final
Japan retained the World Baseball Classic with a 5-3 victory over South Korea at Dodger Stadium.
Ichiro Suzuki settled a pulsating contest by belting a two-run single up the middle in the top of the 10th innings for his fourth hit of the game.
Japan had earlier opened a 3-1 lead in the eighth but Olympic champions South Korea battled back with one run in the bottom half of the innings and another with two outs in the ninth on an Lee Bum-ho RBI single to extend the game to extra innings.
Ichiro, the Major League record holder for most hits in a season with 262 in 2004, had been quiet during the WBC but picked the perfect time to find form.
With runners on second and third, the Seattle Mariners right fielder fought side-arming reliever Lim Chang-yong through an eight-pitch at-bat before driving a 2-2 pitch into centre field to give Japan their winning margin.
Boston Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka, who earned the victory in Japan's semi-final success over the United States, was named tournament MVP. He also won the award in 2006.
